After two years of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire. The 20-point peace plan begins with the return of all Hamas-held hostages, both living and dead. Previous ceasefire agreements have quickly crumbled. Will this one last?
This week marks two years since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Israel swiftly struck back against the Hamas-held Gaza region. Some world leaders say Israel has gone too far in its response. Thousands of Palestinians have died in the conflict. Other world leaders see Israel’s actions as necessary to defeat Hamas’ Islamist terror regime. But they agree on one thing: They want the violence to stop. Officials from the United States and other nations have attempted to mediate peace deals before. So far, none have lasted.
On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump announced the new ceasefire deal. The United States helped broker the deal, along with Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar. At the time of this writing, Israel’s cabinet is expected to officially approve the deal Thursday evening. Per the agreement, fighting will pause. Hamas will return its 20 living Israeli hostages first, and the bodies of those who died.
In return, Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces will begin to withdraw from Gaza. Five border crossings into Gaza will reopen, allowing aid to flow back into the region. The head of paramedics in northern Gaza calls the ceasefire a “moment of joy.”
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” wrote President Trump.
Israelis and Palestinians alike celebrate the ceasefire. Palestinian Ayman Saber lost his Gaza home to Israeli strikes. Now he plans to return. “I will rebuild the house. We will rebuild Gaza,” he says.
Travis Kircher, Associate Breaking News Editor for WORLD, reported from Tel Aviv Thursday morning. He went to Hostages Square, where a crowd had gathered to celebrate and await the return of hostages. The celebrators carried signs, sang, and danced. They waved Israeli and American flags. (Click “Video” below this article’s image to watch some of that footage.)
“It’s exciting,” says Hagit Volovich. Though advanced in her pregnancy, she came out to join the celebration. “We just wanted to come here to be with all the people, to feel this, this feeling, this hope.”
Another woman, Orya Beck, also expressed excitement to see the hostages returned. “We’re wishing to see them soon, as much as possible, healthy, and with their families and all of us,” she says.
World leaders from places such as Canada, New Zealand, and Japan praised the peace agreement. Argentine President Javier Milei says he will nominate President Trump, who helped broker the deal, for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Some questions remain. Will Hamas be disarmed—and how will that happen? Who will ultimately govern Gaza? Some world leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, have suggested a “two state solution.” This would allow Palestinians to create their own nation in Gaza. In the past, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed this solution.
Pray that the ceasefire will last. Ask God to provide for those in need, both in Israel and Gaza. Ask Him to give world leaders wisdom to achieve a long-term, peaceful solution.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. — James 3:18
Click the “video” button at the top of the story to see footage of the celebrations in Tel Aviv.
